Threatening E-Mails Sent To Ukrainian Organizations After RFE/RL Investigation

A large number of state institutions in Ukraine on October 14 were evacuated after hundreds of schools, businesses, embassies, and media outlets received e-mails threatening a terrorist attack.

Authorities inspected schools, businesses, hotels, embassies, and media organizations -- including RFE/RL -- that received the threatening e-mail looking for explosive devices that the message said had been planted at those locations.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said 60 of its missions abroad had received the threatening e-mail, some of them suspending consular services.

The threatening e-mail mentions the names of RFE/RL journalists Iryna Sysak and Valeria Yehoshyna, as well as freelancer Yulia Khymeryk, whose activities the senders appear to blame for prompting them to plan the alleged bombings, although they did not mention any specific activity.

It follows an investigation published by the three journalists in the Skhemy (Schemes) investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service showing how Russian intelligence services recruit Ukrainians, including minors, to set fire to the cars of the Ukrainian military personnel and representatives of conscription centers.

Representatives of Ukraine's National Police who checked the locations -- including the office of RFE/RL in Kyiv -- said late on October 14 that they had not found any explosive device after searching some 60 percent of the threatened locations, but searches continued.

The message was sent by a person who identified himself as a representative of a "terrorist group" whose name matches that of an anti-Ukrainian Telegram channel, which has spread calls to burn cars belonging to Ukrainian military personnel and representatives of conscription centers. RFE/RL is not disclosing the name of the sender or the group for security and ethical reasons.

After receiving the threatening e-mail, Schemes also found out that a person with the same name as the sender of the threatening e-mail lives in Russian-occupied Crimea and has a Russian passport.

RFE/RL President Stephen Capus said RFE/RL was aware that its journalists had been named in the threatening e-mails.

"We will not be intimidated and stand behind our reporters who will continue to bring news to Ukrainian audiences without fear or favor," Capus said, pledging to fully cooperate with authorities in their investigations.

According to Schemes, the group that claimed responsibility for the alleged planting of explosives is actively spreading messages on social media calling for the burning of Ukrainian military vehicles and demonstrating the results of previous arson attacks. The recruiting effort offers $100 to those who agree to take part.

Artem Dekhtyarenko, spokesman for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Russia was trying to make it look like arson attacks are being carried out by ordinary Ukrainians when in fact the attacks are instigated by Russian security services.

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The group's Telegram channel also shares videos of officers at conscription centers detaining Ukrainian citizens for mobilization and calls for persecution of these soldiers in exchange for a promised payment of $1,000.

Schemes also reported that in early October representatives of the same group sent messages to several Ukrainian government agencies offering to "kill for a fee" top security officials and public figures. They introduced themselves as an organization that "has long been engaged in the execution of orders for violent actions and the resolution of issues through physical elimination."

The group's website says that it provides "services" such as "racketeering, contract killings, car theft, bodily harm, arson."

The SBU's press service told Schemes that the mass mailing of threatening e-mails should be viewed as an operation aimed at spreading panic among the Ukrainian public.